Middle Tennesee State University Athletics
Saturday, January 16
Murfreesboro, Tenn.
3 p.m.
Middle Tennessee
5
vs
2
Kennesaw State
Blue Raiders ride on to victory vs. Owls
1/16/2016 6:17:00 PM | Women's Tennis
MT completes perfect opening weekend
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. – The Middle Tennessee women's tennis team took care of business against the visiting Kennesaw State Owls at the Adams Tennis Complex on Saturday afternoon.
"We've faced a lot of adversity this week, so it feels good to come away with two wins to open up the season," head coach Charlie Ramsay said of his team. "KSU fought hard and was ready to play, but our girls just didn't want give up a loss in this building."
Doubles action kicked off the afternoon with MT in complete control. Brittany Huxley and Giulia Squadrin took an early lead and never looked back, as they quickly ended their match at 6-0. Darya Shulzhanok and Sarah Sediri followed that up with a 6-4 win of their own, giving MT the doubles point.
Kennesaw State got ahead 2-1 after the No. 4 singles match was halted at 6-6 due to a retirement. Shulzhanok knotted the match back up, however, as she won her singles match in dominating fashion, 6-1, 6-0. The drop shot was working all afternoon long for Shulzhanok.
Newcomer Luisa Zirilli continued her brilliance in singles play with a victory at No. 3 singles, 6-3, 6-0. It was a close one in the early going for Huxley at No. 2 singles, but she eventually found her groove and pulled away to win 6-3, 6-1, clinching the match for the Blue Raiders.
All eyes were on Sediri's match at No. 5, however. The junior was in a tight match, but she came away with a 6-4, 6-4 win.
The Blue Raiders, now 2-0, will travel to Miami, Florida, to compete in the ITA Kickoff Weekend against preseason No. 13 Miami (FL). Michigan State and Auburn will be in Miami for the event. The Spartans and Tigers are both ranked as well.
"Miami is one of the top programs in the country," Ramsay said of his team's next opponent. "We've got to shift our focus to getting healthy."
MT will return to Adams Tennis Complex on Feb. 4 vs. UTC. The new facility will be home to the C-USA Tournament on April 21-24.
Kennesaw State vs Middle Tennessee
1/16/2016 at Murfreesboro, Tenn.
Middle Tennessee 5, Kennesaw State 2
Singles competition
1. Darya Shulzhanok (MT) def. Laura Hopton (KSU) 6-1, 6-0
2. Brittany Huxley (MT) def. Cristina Martin (KSU) 6-3, 6-1\
3. Luisa Zirilli (MT) def. Alexandra Mercado (KSU) 6-3, 6-0
4. Isabela Castro (KSU) def. Giulia Squadrin (MT) 6-6, retired
5. Sarah Sediri (MT) def. Ashleigh De Wet (KSU) 6-4, 6-4
6. No player (KSU) def. No player (MT), by forfeit
Doubles competition
1. Brittany Huxley/Giulia Squadrin (MT) def. Laura Hopton/Cristina Martin (KSU) 6-0
2. Darya Shulzhanok/Sarah Sediri (MT) def. Alexandra Mercado/Gabrielle Robinson (KSU) 6-4
Match Notes:
Kennesaw State 0-1
Middle Tennessee 2-0
Order of finish: Doubles (3,1,2); Singles (6,4,1,3,2,5)
Official: Ted Mason T-2:15 A-73
"We've faced a lot of adversity this week, so it feels good to come away with two wins to open up the season," head coach Charlie Ramsay said of his team. "KSU fought hard and was ready to play, but our girls just didn't want give up a loss in this building."
Doubles action kicked off the afternoon with MT in complete control. Brittany Huxley and Giulia Squadrin took an early lead and never looked back, as they quickly ended their match at 6-0. Darya Shulzhanok and Sarah Sediri followed that up with a 6-4 win of their own, giving MT the doubles point.
Kennesaw State got ahead 2-1 after the No. 4 singles match was halted at 6-6 due to a retirement. Shulzhanok knotted the match back up, however, as she won her singles match in dominating fashion, 6-1, 6-0. The drop shot was working all afternoon long for Shulzhanok.
Newcomer Luisa Zirilli continued her brilliance in singles play with a victory at No. 3 singles, 6-3, 6-0. It was a close one in the early going for Huxley at No. 2 singles, but she eventually found her groove and pulled away to win 6-3, 6-1, clinching the match for the Blue Raiders.
All eyes were on Sediri's match at No. 5, however. The junior was in a tight match, but she came away with a 6-4, 6-4 win.
The Blue Raiders, now 2-0, will travel to Miami, Florida, to compete in the ITA Kickoff Weekend against preseason No. 13 Miami (FL). Michigan State and Auburn will be in Miami for the event. The Spartans and Tigers are both ranked as well.
"Miami is one of the top programs in the country," Ramsay said of his team's next opponent. "We've got to shift our focus to getting healthy."
MT will return to Adams Tennis Complex on Feb. 4 vs. UTC. The new facility will be home to the C-USA Tournament on April 21-24.
Kennesaw State vs Middle Tennessee
1/16/2016 at Murfreesboro, Tenn.
Middle Tennessee 5, Kennesaw State 2
Singles competition
1. Darya Shulzhanok (MT) def. Laura Hopton (KSU) 6-1, 6-0
2. Brittany Huxley (MT) def. Cristina Martin (KSU) 6-3, 6-1\
3. Luisa Zirilli (MT) def. Alexandra Mercado (KSU) 6-3, 6-0
4. Isabela Castro (KSU) def. Giulia Squadrin (MT) 6-6, retired
5. Sarah Sediri (MT) def. Ashleigh De Wet (KSU) 6-4, 6-4
6. No player (KSU) def. No player (MT), by forfeit
Doubles competition
1. Brittany Huxley/Giulia Squadrin (MT) def. Laura Hopton/Cristina Martin (KSU) 6-0
2. Darya Shulzhanok/Sarah Sediri (MT) def. Alexandra Mercado/Gabrielle Robinson (KSU) 6-4
Match Notes:
Kennesaw State 0-1
Middle Tennessee 2-0
Order of finish: Doubles (3,1,2); Singles (6,4,1,3,2,5)
Official: Ted Mason T-2:15 A-73
Players Mentioned
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
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